pit

[ pit ]

/ pɪt /

noun

a naturally formed or excavated hole or cavity in the ground: pits caused by erosion; clay pits.

a covered or concealed excavation in the ground, serving as a trap.

Mining.

an excavation made in exploring for or removing a mineral deposit, as by open-cut methods.
the shaft of a coal mine.
the mine itself.

the abode of evil spirits and lost souls; hell: an evil inspiration from the pit.

the pits, Slang. an extremely unpleasant, boring, or depressing place, condition, person, etc.; the absolute worst: When you're alone, Christmas is the pits.

a hollow or indentation in a surface: glass flawed by pits.

a natural hollow or depression in the body: the pit of the back.

pits, Informal. the armpits: up to my pits in work.

a small, depressed scar, as one of those left on the skin after smallpox or chicken pox.

an enclosure, usually below the level of the spectators, as for staging fights between dogs, cocks, or, formerly, bears.

(in a commodity exchange) a part of the floor of the exchange where trading in a particular commodity takes place: the corn pit.

Architecture.

all that part of the main floor of a theater behind the musicians.
British. the main floor of a theater behind the stalls.
orchestra(def 2a).

(in a hoistway) a space below the level of the lowest floor served.

Auto Racing. an area at the side of a track, for servicing and refueling the cars.

Bowling. the sunken area of a bowling alley behind the pins, for the placement or recovery of pins that have been knocked down.

Track. the area forward of the takeoff point in a jumping event, as the broad jump or pole vault, that is filled with sawdust or soft earth to lessen the force of the jumper's landing.

the area or room of a casino containing gambling tables.

verb (used with object), pit·ted, pit·ting.

to mark or indent with pits or depressions: ground pitted by erosion.

to scar with pockmarks: His forehead was pitted by chicken pox.

to place or bury in a pit, as for storage.

to set in opposition or combat, as one against another.

to put (animals) in a pit or enclosure for fighting.

verb (used without object), pit·ted, pit·ting.

to become marked with pits or depressions.

(of body tissue) to retain temporarily a mark of pressure, as by a finger, instrument, etc.

Origin of pit

before 900; (noun) Middle English; Old English pytt < Latin puteus well, pit, shaft; (v.) derivative of the noun

SYNONYMS FOR pit

21 match, oppose.

Words nearby pit

piston ring, piston rod, piston slap, pistou, pisé, pit, pit against, pit boss, pit bull terrier, pit dwelling, pit grave

Definition for pits (2 of 2)

pit ²

[ pit ]

/ pɪt /

Chiefly Northern U.S.

noun

the stone of a fruit, as of a cherry, peach, or plum.

verb (used with object), pit·ted, pit·ting.

to remove the pit from (a fruit or fruits): to pit cherries for a pie.

Origin of pit

1835–45, Americanism; < Dutch: kernel; cognate with pith

Example sentences from the Web for pits

Point one: It pits a best-selling management guru against a trendy yogurt company.

How One Lawsuit Shows What’s Wrong With America |James Poulos |October 20, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Here, he pits the craziest GoPro footage against his own, which is noticeably less extreme.

Viral Video of the Day: How People Really Use Their GoPro |Alex Chancey |October 2, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Broun is prone to controversial remarks, including that the Big Bang Theory comes from the pits of hell.

10 GOP Rebranding Roadblocks |Ben Jacobs |January 30, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Remember where you read it: If 2016 pits Clinton against Cruz, the Democrats will carry Georgia.

The Case for Ted Cruz—Why Liberals Should Hope the GOP Taps Him in 2016 |Michael Tomasky |July 22, 2013 |DAILY BEAST

If 2016 pits Clinton against Cruz, the Democrats will carry Georgia, writes Michael Tomasky.

The Case for Ted Cruz—Why Liberals Should Hope the GOP Taps Him in 2016 |Michael Tomasky |July 22, 2013 |DAILY BEAST
Driftwood was collected, pits were dug and roofed, and provisions were brought from the ship.

Vitus Bering: the Discoverer of Bering Strait |Peter Lauridsen
The tasteable substances must be in solution in order to penetrate the pits and get to the sensitive tips of the taste cells.

Psychology |Robert S. Woodworth
In these pits he is said by some writers to have fixed pointed stakes.

Cassell's History of England, Vol. I (of 9) |Anonymous
The field in front of the lane (where these pits were) is a fairly smooth slope for about 38fifty yards.

The Old Front Line |John Masefield
Those here given are near the surface, or exposed in ditches or pits, and may be found by anyone who has the eye to discern them.

Records of Woodhall Spa and Neighbourhood |J. Conway Walter

British Dictionary definitions for pits (1 of 4)

pits

/ (pɪts) /

pl n

the pits slang the worst possible person, place, or thing

Word Origin for pits

C20: perhaps shortened from armpits

British Dictionary definitions for pits (2 of 4)

pit ¹

/ (pɪt) /

noun

a large, usually deep opening in the ground

a mine or excavation with a shaft, esp for coal
the shaft in a mine
(as modifier)pit pony; pit prop

a concealed danger or difficulty

the pit hell

Also called: orchestra pit the area that is occupied by the orchestra in a theatre, located in front of the stage

an enclosure for fighting animals or birds, esp gamecocks

anatomy

a small natural depression on the surface of a body, organ, structure, or part; fossa
the floor of any natural bodily cavitythe pit of the stomach

pathol a small indented scar at the site of a former pustule; pockmark

any of various small areas in a plant cell wall that remain unthickened when the rest of the cell becomes lignified, esp the vascular tissue

a working area at the side of a motor-racing track for servicing or refuelling vehicles

a section on the floor of a commodity exchange devoted to a special line of trading

a rowdy card game in which players bid for commodities

an area of sand or other soft material at the end of a long-jump approach, behind the bar of a pole vault, etc, on which an athlete may land safely

the ground floor of the auditorium of a theatre

British a slang word for bed (def. 1), bedroom (def. 1)

another word for pitfall (def. 2)

verb pits, pitting or pitted

(tr often foll by against) to match in opposition, esp as antagonists

to mark or become marked with pits

(tr) to place or bury in a pit

Word Origin for pit

Old English pytt, from Latin puteus; compare Old French pet, Old High German pfuzzi

British Dictionary definitions for pits (3 of 4)

pit ²

/ (pɪt) mainly US and Canadian /

noun

the stone of a cherry, plum, etc

verb pits, pitting or pitted

(tr) to extract the stone from (a fruit)

Word Origin for pit

C19: from Dutch: kernel; compare pith

British Dictionary definitions for pits (4 of 4)

pit ³

/ (pɪt) /

verb

a Scot word for put

Medical definitions for pits

pit

[ pĭt ]

n.

A natural hollow or depression in the body or an organ.

A pockmark.

A sharp-pointed depression in the enamel surface of a tooth, caused by faulty or incomplete calcification or formed by the confluent point of two or more lobes of enamel.

v.

To mark with cavities, depressions, or scars.

To retain an impression after being indented. Used of the skin.

Scientific definitions for pits

pit

[ pĭt ]

The hard, inner layer (the endocarp) of certain drupes that are valued for their flesh, such as peaches, cherries, or olives. Not in scientific use.

Idioms and Phrases with pits

pit

In addition to the idiom beginning with pit

pit against

also see:

the pits

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

pit

noun

verb (used with object), pit·ted, pit·ting.

verb (used without object), pit·ted, pit·ting.

Origin of pit

SYNONYMS FOR pit

Words nearby pit

Definition for pits (2 of 2)

noun

verb (used with object), pit·ted, pit·ting.

Origin of pit

Example sentences from the Web for pits

British Dictionary definitions for pits (1 of 4)

pl n

Word Origin for pits

British Dictionary definitions for pits (2 of 4)

noun

verb pits, pitting or pitted

Word Origin for pit

British Dictionary definitions for pits (3 of 4)

noun

verb pits, pitting or pitted

Word Origin for pit

British Dictionary definitions for pits (4 of 4)

verb

Medical definitions for pits

n.

v.

Scientific definitions for pits

Idioms and Phrases with pits

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

pit

noun

verb (used with object), pit·ted, pit·ting.

verb (used without object), pit·ted, pit·ting.

Origin of pit

SYNONYMS FOR pit

Words nearby pit

Definition for pits (2 of 2)

noun

verb (used with object), pit·ted, pit·ting.

Origin of pit

Words related to pits

Example sentences from the Web for pits

British Dictionary definitions for pits (1 of 4)

pl n

Word Origin for pits

British Dictionary definitions for pits (2 of 4)

noun

verb pits, pitting or pitted

Word Origin for pit

British Dictionary definitions for pits (3 of 4)

noun

verb pits, pitting or pitted

Word Origin for pit

British Dictionary definitions for pits (4 of 4)

verb

Medical definitions for pits

n.

v.

Scientific definitions for pits

Idioms and Phrases with pits